Restoring Tarnished Sterling Silver: Repair & Restoration Tips

Question
    Unaware of the damage it could do, I recently swam in chlorinated water with my sterling silver ring. It looks like the polish came right off and the intricate designs along with it. Is there anything I can do to restore it?

Answer
Dear Becky,

The most common result of exposing silver to chlorine is a blackening of the metal or, at worst, a pitting of the surface. If you just have the blackening, take your jewelry to a jeweler who has a "Speedbrite" machine - it will clean your silver in a jiffy. The jeweler will likely perform this service at no charge. If you don't have any luck finding a jeweler, pick up some silver polish at your local supermarket and follow the instructions. In the case of severe pitting, your jewelry may, unfortunately, be a total loss.

Rich